Customer Reviews

Pepper's Ghost

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this one on impulse - listened to a few soundbites, read a few reviews - without having purchased other works by this artist. Needless to say, I was quite impressed by the musicality and the production values employed on this album. I certainly hear some influences by Asia (Wetton-era), some '80s-era Rush, a bit of Symphony X. Overall, an outstanding blend of melodic and rhythmic rock + mostly thoughtful lyrics (minimal cheese). No mindless noodling. Highly recommended for progressive rock fans.

The new one from epic melodic rockers Arena didn't strike me as interesting as their previous work, 'Contagion'(2003). I guess it's hard to follow up a career defining moment like Contagion. You just get on with the next album, I suppose. As much as I liked the last one, at least they didn't repeat Contagion, though there are a few bits which may recall earlier work like 'Songs From The Lion's Cage(1995) and 'Immortal'(2000).
They still have that big, epic sound which still appeals to fans of stuff like Pallas, IQ or Jadis.

'Pepper's Ghost' is Arena's most 'accessible' album to date, with guitars up in the mix, making some tracks bordering on prog-metal ala Threshold. Already on a high with his other group Kino who just put out their excellent debut, John Mitchel shines throughout. Strangely enough, keyboardist and mainman Clive Nolan seems buried here and there or at least content to let John shine. Mick's drums sound solid too. Of course I've grown to really like vocalist Rob Sowden, and he sings with the expected soul and power he has since he joined in 1999. This is the definitive line-up of Arena, and one can already hear the growth in the members' playing and writing. This is the third studio album by Arena line-up #3, and to me they no longer have that stygma of being a 'neo-prog' supergroup made up of ex-members of Marillion, Pendragon and Jadis. They have by now forged their own identity and sound, which is good.

Also, though Arena's albums are usually conceptual in one way or another, 'Pepper' is not a concept album like 'Contagion'. The songs follow a certain theme (insanity, I think) throughout, yet they can be taken as individual tracks, unlike Contagion or 1998's 'The Visitor', where the music was strung together and continuous. Arena has eased up on some of their gloom and doom to some extent, and the band members apearing in comic book form for the story in the CD booklet is cool. The trax:

BEDLAM FAYRE - opens with the usual circus-of-the-macabre sounds before launching into a punchy opener. In better days, this could have been a solid minor hit radio track.

SMOKE & MIRRORS - Rob's voice is expressive here. Again, solid and accessible.

THE SHATTERED ROOM - the first epic track of the album goes through the expected mood changes and textures. Though this could be seen as Arena-by-numbers, it's still enjoyable.

THE EYES OF LARA MOON - shortest track here, but also a memorable chorus. Kind of folk-ish. Not folk as in acoustic guitars or Bob Dylan and such, more like folk-tale imagery. The Balad Of Lara Moon, if you will.

TANTALUS - the obligatory 'eerie' track, like 'Butterfly Man' or 'Don't Forget To Breath' before it.

PURATORY ROAD - nice guitars and synths. A slower, heavy number.

OPERA FANATICA - the closing epic clocks in at 13 minutes and has an anthemic chorus and some tricky organ/guitar interplay. A big, epic sound. This would be a good live track.

Maybe Arena are preaching to the converted, just putting out the next album. Maybe they hit their target audience, no more no less(the InsideOut label enthusiasts and prog-heads). Perhaps, but they still can put out a decent heavy melodic rock album which should be in your collection with the rest of the Arena catalog.

Arena produces another superb disc with Pepper's Ghost. The master lyricist/keyboardist/producer wizard Clive Nolan yet again delivers innovation with lyrics about mystery and imagination along with contributing to the Victorian cover art and comic style booklet. Also, the production is spacious but crisp which reveals good detail making for great sound.

The sound is a mix of heavy symphonic rock and progressive rock. Without a doubt, this disc contains the heaviest music of all of their studio albums. Bedlum Fayre is a terrific opener of racing synthesizer coupled with excellent guitar. However, what I immediately notice is the rhythm section having much more of a 'bite' to it than in the past. Mick Pointer/drums cuts loose big time yet has never sounded better, and you can easily follow Ian Salmon/bass which is deep and tight without it becoming lost in the mix. Though the rhythm section thrusts forth much more power, it never degenerates to becoming merely gaudy. How about the vocals? Well, Rob Sowden makes a magnificent presentation highlighted by the emotional Tantalus and thoroughly captivating The Eyes of Lara Moon. Arguably, he is one of the finest vocalists in rock today if not the best. Furthermore, the interplay between John Mitchell/ guitar and Clive Nolan is metallic and beautiful when necessary. Indeed, you just listen to the glorious Smoke and Mirrors, progressive sounding Shattered Room, and the grand Opera Fanatica. In concert, the more mainstream Purgatory Road would definitely bring down the house with its rocking, catchy chorus and incisive lyrics!


Of course, I can see why some fans of Contagion & The Visitor are having a difficult time accepting Pepper's Ghost with the different musical twist this time around. But remember, bands that continue to repeat themselves are generally not viable very long or making significant music. Thus, this disc should be evaluated on its own merit and not judged against your favorite album by the band-Do not reach any conclusions about this disc until you have listened to it for about 6 times.

Warning: The music contained on this disc to the best of my knowledge has not been influenced nor inspired by Dream Theater, Abba, Rush, Jackson 5, Metallica, or the Dixie Chicks *chuckle*.

Arena delievers once again, showing themselves to be true masters of heavy prog. Kudos must be given to a band that has so many influences, such as early Genesis to dare I say heavier groups like Deep Purple, and yet manage to sound very much their own. I love the way the cd comes on as some macabe music hall with seven stories. Especially impressive is the last song Opera Fanatica, which combines elements of Opera, Prog and Metal to create an opus any band would be proud of. Hats off to Clive Nolan, keyboard player, who is the guiding force behind Arena for coming up with this concept. There is even a great comic book style insert to help explain the songs! Docked one star for beig a bit too short, inotherwords, for Arena, more is better!

As with every other album in their discography, Arena have definitely wandered into different sounding territory with Pepper's Ghost again. This album is more linear compared to the band's previous records Immortal? and The Visitor. Pepper's Ghost is a more song-oriented and straightforward release with more emphasis on guitars than keys and intricate arrangements. The songs have a big warm sound with multi-part choruses, great hooks, catchy melodies and solid composition. There are more guitars, less keys, simpler yet catchier melodies here. Rather than compare this relase to the band's past efforts, I have to mention the similarities to Paradox-era Royal Hunt in Rob Sowden's vocal harmonies, some Carved in Stone-era Shadow Gallery and the undeniable Threshold influence thanks to Karl Groom.

Interestingly, producer and keyboardist Clive Nolan takes a back seat on this release and gives guitarist John Mitchell more playing space. The almost 10-minute piece "The Shattered Room" displays smooth melodic playing from Mitchell; his guitar wails in the run-out section of the song as Clive Nolan joins him with various colours of sound on his keyboard. It's one of the best songs on the album dealing with multiple personality crises on a lyrical level. Each member on this album (as shown on the cover art) personifies a certain Victorian comic hero and the album explores themes of insanity and confusion throughout. Correspondingly, "Tantalus" is a piano ballad which was inspired by Clive Nolan's interest in Greek mythology, yet the song will first catch your interest due to its rapid change of rhythms and Mitchell's articulate guitar playing.

Vocalist Rob Sowden's vocal lines have been toned down on the album; Sowden sings lower but the huge multi-part choruses really give his singing a push. "Smoke and Mirrors" is the perfect example showcasing these huge choruses, which are no doubt Threshold-influenced melodies. You need to check out Threshold's Subsurface album if you want more of this kind. The last song, "Opera Fanatica", is the longest track with epic touches. It is also the most progressive piece as it draws from contrasts between melody and rhythm adding a good dose of atmospheric elements to the songcraft. "Purgatory Road" is the heaviest composition with its almost missing keyboards and mercilessly searing guitar work, whilst "The Eyes of Lara Moon" contains an unforgettable acoustic vibe and an emotional vocal delivery.

It could be argued that the songs on Pepper's Ghost are too simplistic never employing any complex song structures, but on the other hand, this record gives John Mitchell and Rob Sowden a good opportunity to push the band in different directions musically. It is true that this album is more on the melodic rock side of the equation with proggy overtones here and there, but still, most Arena fans are going to like this because of its melodic and symphonic orientation. I personally still like Immortal?, The Visitor and Songs from the Lions Cage better, but Pepper's Ghost is a much welcome addition to Arena's back catalog.

I recall that soon after purchasing Peppers Ghost I became a devoted enthusiast / collector of InsideOut music releases. While I am far from a label-snob, this is a focused identity that has excellent ideas on quality and output of interesting intellectual music right now.

Arena's Pepper's Ghost, in my opinion represents everything that is going RIGHT with this genre's wonderful and prolific collection of present work. There is an instant theme on Pepper's Ghost and the music is not too hard to digest on first spins. With repeated listens the album expands and reveals even more. I have played this one heavily and I still hear new elements. Pepper's Ghost is very good.

Lastly, Arena has hit another great nerve with record buffs by making the packaging a focal point again. The artwork on Pepper's Ghost is awesome.

This is a great record. Yes, it's different than contagion or even immortal, but when a group repets itself many fans says they're continuing with a "formula", not creating new music. Well, Arena have changed, and it's a good change. They sound more tight and solid. Give it a chance, you won't be dissapointed.

This is one astounding album. I had to listen to it over 10 times to get it down right!
Mik Pointer's work is absolutely incredible. He is one amazing drummer and his new work on this album combined by Ian Salmon's bass has just introduced the prog. fans a new angle in prog rock/hard rock. The first song starts with a short but amazing keyboard by Clive Nolan, it is an awesome song and has a very catchy tune. I can't stop singing it in my head. `Smoke and Mirrors' is another great song. Great work! Again, some catchy tune and great bass line. `Shattered room' is by far one of Arena's best songs ever. Rob Sowden is just amazing in this song. The 4th song "Lara moon" is one of the slower songs in this album and is my favorite song. Again Rob amazes you with his voice. Great guitar work in this song by John Mitchell; he is just exceptionally good throughout the entire album. Tantlaus, starts great, lags a little in the middle, and then picks up again very nicely; my least favorite song.
`Purgatory road', now this is one great song in which every body shows their skills to the fullest. This sort of performance is why Arena is such a great band. The last song, Opera Fanatica, starts with a lot of heavy metal signatures all over the place, taking this fact out, it reminds me a lot of Moviedrom on Immortal?
Over all, great album, the more you listen to it, the more amazing it sounds. Buy it, it's way worth it.

Judge this offering from Arena on its merit. It isn't Dream Theater or Marillion, whether influenced by Rush (or Abba for that matter) who knows? Prog rock or not this is a well constructed offering with a stronger guitar emphasis than previous Arena. A matter of personal taste, I like this. Give it a listen, the samples are there for a reason............

Amazing stuff, anyone who likes prog rock will love this album. Arena just get better and better.